Alarm valve and system.



PATLNTLD Nov. a, 1903. L. L. THOMPSON.

ALARM VALVE AND SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 27, 1903.

NO MODEL.

IHIIIHHIIIHIHI A IIIIIIIIIIIIH Wfzsses z UNITED STAIES'N Patented November 3, 1903; l

`PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT L. THOMPSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ALARM VALVE AND SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 743,049, dated November 3, .1903.

Application nea May 27.1903. senti No. 158,927. (No man.)

.'lo all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, EVERETTL. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city ofNew York, county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Automatic Sprinkler-Alarm Devices, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form apart of the Same.

This invention relates to automatic sprin-` kler-alarm devices, such as may be used in connection with the ordinary automatic sprinkler systems for giving an alarm in case of fire or the opening of the sprinkler systems.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the'same reference characters refer to similar parts in the several figures,` Figure 1 is a cross-section of one form of valve and alarm otherstructure, and suitable,sprinkler-heads, Y

such as b, to automatically operate in the event of fire. The supply-pipe is preferably formed with means for maintaining a dierence of pressure in the pipe on the commencement of a How therethrough, and this means may take the form of a check-valve D, (indicated in Fig. 3,) weighted so as togive the desired pressure per square inch, which co` operates with the seat d. in the valve-casing C. The alarm device is preferably directly' connected with the supply-pipe adjacent the valve or other means for maintaining dierence of pressure therein.

In the preferred embodiment of thisinvention (indicated in Fig. 1) the jetdevice for actuating the alarm is shown as axially mounted within the supply-pipe A, this jetdevice..

comprising the jet-pipel, supported b'ya suitable bridge c and containing the opposed nozzles 2 and 3, the nozzles `being preferably given the tapering form indicated, so that opposed contractingpassages are formed in this way. Between the two nozzles and the inner walls of the jet-pipe is formed an exhaust-chamber 4, with which the exhausttube 5 connects. These cooperating nozzles constitute the j et device E. The check-valve D is indicated in this case as mounted upon the jet-pipe 1 and is guided in this manner so as to coperate with the seatd. The spring d may be used to normally hold the checkvalve upon its seat and also to maintain a difference of pressure in the supply-pipe at this point when a flow up through the pipe commences.

When one or more sprinklers in the distributing system open and a How of water takes place up through .the supply-pipe, the difference of pressure maintained at the valve D will cause a stream of water to be forced through the jet device. The velocity through the opposed nozzles 2 and 3 causes a diminution of pressure in the exhaust-chamber 4, so

as to operate an alarm connected with the exhaust-tube 5. This action of the jet device depends upon the velocity of water passing through the same, and is therefore comparatively undisturbed by the action of waterhammer in the pipes or other accidental variations in pressure. Furthermore, since the jet device provides a passage at all times around the valve water may pass through this device and operate to equalize the pressure without actuating the alarm device,since pulsations are not sufficient in amount nor sufficiently continuous in action to cause any exhaust or substantial loss of pressure in the exhaust-tube. In the event of water-hammer sufficient to lift the valve D from its seat this lifting of the valve would not necessarily operate the jet device or the alarm con?- nected therewith.

The diaphragm-casing 7 may be connected bythe exhaust-tube 5 with the jet device, as

` seen in Fig. 1, and this casing may have the diaphragm 10` clamped between its upper and lower halves 8 and 9. The pipe 15- is indicated as connecting with the supply-pipe below the valve, so that this pressure is exerted upon the under surface of the diaphragm 10. Upon the diaphragm the post 1l is mounted, connected with which is the valve 12, which is pivoted or otherwise suitably mounted at ICO 13, so that when the diaphragm is in its normal position the valve is seated upon the open end of the pipe 14, which may be connected with any suitable alarm mechanism. As seen in Fig. 3, this pipe may be connected with an electric and also with a mechanical" When a suitable reduction of pressure takes place in the exhaust-tube 5, the diaphragm 10 is thereupon lifted, and the valve l2 is thus lifted from its seat on the end of the pipe 14. The water is under'these conditions allowed to enter the pipe 14 and serves to operate the mechanical alarm, as indicated, and also serves to raise the diaphragm 17, so as to close the circuit ot the electric alarm.

It is not necessary, of course, to arrange the jet device in the stand-pipe itself, as is indicated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 amodilied construction is indicated, in which the jet-device is located in a by-pass. The nozzles of the jet device are directly connected by the pipesH H Awith the supply-pipe on either side of the check-valve D, suitably weighted to give-the desired pressure per square inch. These pipes which form the by-pass give an open connection which allows a free flow ot` water through the jet device, the operation of which and its connection with the alarm being similar to what has been described.

The jet device may also be located at a point exterior to the supply-pipe, as is indicated in Fig. 3. The air-chamber G is indicated in that instance as connected by the pipe F with the supply-pipe above the weighted check-valve The jet device E is located in this pipe F, as indicated. Under these circumstances when the system is tllled with water thewater rises'through the pipe F and partly fills the chamber G, compressing the air therein. When the sprinklers open in the distributing system, the compressed air in the chamber G forces the Water out of this chamber and through the jet device, thus creating a loss of pressure in the chamber 4 and exhaust-pipe 5 and actuating the alarm mechanism in the manner described. The pipe 15 is in this form of apparatus preferably connected with the pipe F between the jet device E and the chamber G. Water-hammer and other variations of pressure in the system will not under these circumstances operate the alarm, the jet device equalizing these momentary variations in pressure.

This invention may be used in connection with anytype of valve located in the supplypipe or may be used outside of the supplypipe and irrespective of the type of valve in the supply-pipe. In some cases also the valve may be entirely omitted from the supply-pipe. Furthermore, the structure of the jet itself may be modified, the exact form not being essential so long as it is arranged in such manner as to operate in the event of a owin the distributing system to cause aloss of pressure in the exhaust-pipe connected to the 4alarm mechanism.

Many modifications may be made by those familiar with this art in the form, size, proportion, and numbers of parts ot' this apparatus. Parts of the same may be used in connection with other devices and parts may be employed without using all of the same without departing from the spirit of this invention or losing the advantages of the same. I do not therefore desire to be limited to the disclosure which has been made in this case; but what I claim as new, and what l desire t0 Secure by Letters Patent, is set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, a spring-pressed valve in said supply-pipe, a jet device comprising opposing nozzles and an exhaust-opening, said nozzles being directly connected with said supply-pipe on either side of said valve, an alarm and a tube connecting said alarm and said exhaust-openlng.

2. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, a check-valve in said supply-pipe, a jet device comprising opposed nozzles, one of which is directly connected with said supply-pipe adjacent said valve, an alarm, and an exhausttube connecting said alarm and said jet device.

3. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a su pply-pipe connected therewith, a valve in said supply-pipe, to maintain a difference of pressure on either side of the same on the commencement of low through said pipe, a jet device having a direct open connection with said supply-pipe adjacent said valve, an alarm, and a tube connecting said alarm with said jet device to actuate said alarm in the event of a iow in said distributing system.

4. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, means to maintain a difference of pressure in said pipe on the commencement of flow therethrough, a jet device having a direct open connection with said supply-pipe adjacent said means, an alarm, and a tube connecting said alarm with said jet device to actuate said alarm in the event of a flow in said distributing system.

5. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, a

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jet devlce com prising opposed nozzles directly connected. with said supply-pipe, an alarm and an exhaust-tube connecting said alarm and said jet device to operate said alarm in the event of a fiowin said distributing system.

6. In automatic sprinklers, a supply-pipe, a jetpipe in said supply-pipe havinga nozzle mounted therein, a check-valve in said supply-pipe inclosing said jet-pipe and an eX- haust-tube communicating with said jet-pipe adjacent said nozzle to be connected with an alarm.

7. In automatic sprinklers, a supplypipe, a jet-pipe in said supply-pipe, a valve in said supply-pipe and mounted to move upon said jet-pipe, opposed adjacent nozzles in said jetpipe forming an exhaust-opening between the same and an eXhaust-tubeto connect said exhaust-opening with an alarm.

8. In automatic sprinklers, a jet device comprising two adjacent opposed nozzles, an exhaust-opening adjacent said nozzles, one of said nozzles being of larger diameter than the other, an alarm, and a tube connecting said exhaust-opening with said alarm. 1

9. In automatic sprinklers,a jet device comprising opposed nozzles, an alarm and an eX- haust-tube connecting said alarm and said jet device adjacent said nozzles.

IO. In automatic sprinklers, a jet device comprising opposed contracting passages, an alarm, and an exhaust-tube connecting said alarm and the contracted portion of said passages in said jet device.

11. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supp1y-pipe connected therewith, a jet device comprising opposed contracting passages directly connected with said supplypipe, an alarm, and an exhaust-tube connecting said alarm andthe contracted portion of said passages to operate said alarm in the event of a flow in said distributing system.

l2. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, means to maintain a diierence of pressure in said supply-pipe on the commencement of flow through said pipe, a jet device comprising opposed contracting passages directly connected with said supply-pipe adjacent said means, an alarm, and a tube connecting said alarm with said jet device to actuate said alarm in the event of a iiow in said distributing system.

13. In automatic sprinklers, a supply-pipe, a jet-pipe in said supply-pipe having a contracting passage therein, a checkvalve in said supply-pipe inclosing said jet-pipe and an exhaust-tube communicating with the contracted portion of said passage to be connected with an alarm.

14. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, means to maintain a difference of pressure in said pipe on the commencement of flow therethrough, a jet device comprising a contracting passage having a direct open connection with said supply-pipe adjacent said means, an alarm and an exhaust-tube connecting said alarm with said jet device to actuate said alarm in the event of a flow in said distributing system.

15. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system, a supply-pipe connected therewith, a valve in said supply-pipe to maintain a difference in pressure on either side of the same on the commencement of iioW through said pipe, a jet device comprising an exhaust-opening and a jet directly connected with said supply-pipe on either side of said valve, an alarm and an exhaust-tube connecting said alarm and said exhaust-opening to actuate said alarm in the event of a iiow in said distributing system.

16. In automatic sprinklers, a distributing system,a supply-pipe connected therewith, means to maintain a dierence of pressure in said pipe upon the commencement of flow therethrough, a jet device comprising an exhaust-opening and a contracted passage directly connected with said supply-pipe on either side of said means, an alarm and an exhaust-tube connecting said alarm With said exhaust-opening to actuate said alarm in the event of a flow in said distributing system.

EVERETT L. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

Guo. H. STEFFANY, J. R. DAVIS. 

